preliminary

Definitions

General English

Banking

Economics

With reference to a tariff or other trade barrier applied as a result of administered protection, this refers to a barrier imposed part way through the administrative process, as opposed to the definitive barrier that is imposed when the administrative process is complete.

Law

adjective happening before other things as an introduction or in preparation

Politics

adjective happening at an early stage in a process

Sports

noun a sporting contest held before the main event, especially in boxing or wrestling

noun an eliminatory contest staged to select the finalists in a sporting competition